Self-fitting, self-adjusting, automatically adjusting and/or automatically fitting magnetic clasp

Abstract

Provided is an automatically adjustable clasp having two separable magnet pieces which may magnetically adhere to each other to form a closed clasp. The clasp also includes a motor, an anchor mechanism for attaching the clasp to a band, sensors, and a control unit. The sensors acquire and send information related to the clasp or the band to the control unit, which may activate the motor. The activation of the motor changes the position of the anchor mechanism with respect to the rest of the clasp, thereby loosening or tightening of the band attached to the anchor mechanism. Also provided is a wearable band with the automatically adjustable clasp. The wearable band may include a shape memory material such that the band may self-assemble around a body part when a stimulus is applied to the shape memory material. The self-assembly process may enable the automatic clasp of the magnet pieces.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wearable band having a self-adjusting clasp, said band comprising:
 a flexible elongated band having two end portions, 
 a clasp having a first and a second clasp members attached to the two end portions of the flexible elongated band, 
 the first clasp member having a first magnet piece, 
 the second clasp member having a second magnet piece, 
 the two end portions of the band being separable from one another in an open position of the band and being configured to mutually attract and magnetically connect to each other to form an overlap in a closed position of the band, 
 a motor disposed in the first clasp member, the motor being configured to adjust a position of the clasp with respect to the band in order to tighten or loosen the band, 
 sensors disposed on an interior surface of the band, and 
 a control unit in communication with the motor and the sensors, 
 wherein the control unit is configured to control activation of the motor based on measurements provided by the sensors. 
 
     
     
       2. The wearable band of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to start the activation of the motor if the measurements provided by the sensors are higher or lower than a predetermined threshold value, and 
 wherein the control unit is configured to cease the activation of the motor if the measurements provided by the sensors reach the predetermined threshold value. 
 
     
     
       3. The wearable band of  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a user input unit in the form of a switch, a knob, or a push button attached to a buckle of the band, or a touch screen of a smart phone attached to the band, 
 wherein the user input unit in communication with the control unit, 
 wherein the control unit controls the activation of the motor in response to instructions provided by the user input unit. 
 
     
     
       4. The wearable band of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnet shield surrounding surfaces of the clasp members and the band. 
     
     
       5. The wearable band of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shape memory material disposed in the flexible elongated band, and 
 a trigger source in communication with the shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material is shape memory polymer, shape memory alloy, or a combination thereof; 
 wherein the trigger source is configured to provide a stimulus to the shape memory material, 
 wherein the shape memory material is configured to transition between a memorized shape and a temporary shape upon receipt of a stimulus, 
 wherein the control unit in communication with the trigger source, and 
 wherein the control unit is configured to instruct the trigger source to provide a stimulus to the shape memory material based on measurements provided by the sensors. 
 
     
     
       6. The wearable band of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the sensors are touch sensors, the touch sensors being configured to detect the contact of the band with a body part and tension information between the band and a body part; and 
 wherein upon laying the band on a body part, the touch sensor sends signals to the control unit, which instructs the trigger source to provide a stimulus to the shape memory material, causing the flexible elongated band to bend and the two magnet pieces to move towards each other and clasp to form the overlap by magnetic force. 
 
     
     
       7. The wearable band of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the trigger source is in communication with a user input unit, 
 wherein the user input unit is a touch screen of a smart phone attached to the band, 
 wherein the trigger source is configured to provide a stimulus to the shape memory material in response to an input provided by the user input unit, and 
 wherein upon laying the band on a body part, an user input is provided through the user input unit, and the trigger source provides a stimulus to the shape memory material in response to the user input causing the flexible elongated band to bend and the two magnet pieces to move towards each other and clasp to form an overlap by magnetic force. 
 
     
     
       8. The wearable band of  claim 5 , wherein the stimulus is application of electric current. 
     
     
       9. The wearable band of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the flexible elongated band is in the form of multiple solid links, 
 wherein the shape memory material is shape memory alloy in the form of elongated wires; and 
 wherein the shape memory alloy wires are dispersed throughout the multiple solid links. 
 
     
     
       10. The wearable band of  claim 9 ,
 wherein part of the links of the multiple solid links are removable and the length of the shape memory alloy wires is adjustable. 
 
     
     
       11. The wearable band of  claim 8 ,
 further comprising a battery housed in a buckle of the band for supplying power to the motor, the control unit, and the sensors, and/or for creating electric current to apply to the shape memory material. 
 
     
     
       12. The wearable band having a self-adjusting clasp, said band comprising:
 a first half band having a proximal end and a distal end, 
 a second half band having a proximal end and a distal end, 
 wherein the proximal end of the first half band the proximal end of the second half band are connected to each other via an article, 
 a clasp having first and second clasp members attached to the two distal ends of the first and second half bands respectively so as to open and close the band, 
 sensors disposed on the first and second half bands, 
 a motor disposed in one of the first and second clasp members, the motor being configured to adjust a position of the clasp with respect to the band, 
 a control unit, 
 wherein the control unit in communication with the motor and the sensors, 
 wherein the control unit is configured to control activation of the motor based on measurements provided by the sensors in order to tighten or loosen the band, 
 a first shape memory material disposed in the first half band, 
 a second shape memory material disposed in the second half band, 
 a first trigger source in communication with the first shape memory material, 
 a second trigger source in communication with the second shape memory material, 
 wherein the first and second trigger sources are configured to provide a stimulus to the first and second shape memory materials, respectively, 
 wherein each of the first and shape memory materials is configured to transition between a memorized shape and a temporary shape upon receipt of a stimulus, 
 wherein the control unit in communication with the first and second trigger sources, 
 wherein the control unit is configured to instruct the first and second trigger sources to provide a stimulus to the first and second shape memory materials, respectively. 
 
     
     
       13. The wearable band of  claim 12 ,
 further comprising a user input unit in the form of a switch, a knob, or a push button attached to a buckle of the band, or a touch screen of a smart phone or a smart watch, 
 wherein the control unit is in communication with the user input unit and controls the activation of the motor and the first and second trigger sources according to instructions provided by the user input unit. 
 
     
     
       14. The wearable band of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the sensors are distributed evenly on an interior surface of the band; 
 wherein the sensors are configured such that number, configuration, and pattern of the sensors in contact with an object determines timing for closing the band and tensioning of the band; and 
 wherein a user selects number, configuration, and pattern of the sensors to be in contact with an object and enters the selections in the user input unit so as to control timing for closing the band and tensioning of the band. 
 
     
     
       15. The wearable band of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to instruct the first trigger source to provide a stimulus to the first shape memory material in response to an input provided by the user input unit or in response to a sensed information provided by the sensors upon laying the band on a body part, causing the first half band to curve with its distal end moving toward the center of an arc of a closed position of the band, and 
 wherein, within milliseconds, the control unit instructs the second trigger source to provide a stimulus to the second shape memory material, causing the second half band to curve its distal end and move toward the center of the arc of the closed position of the band, thereby facilitating the clasp of the first and second clasp members. 
 
     
     
       16. The wearable band of  claim 15 , wherein the stimulus is application of electric current. 
     
     
       17. The wearable band of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the first clasp member having a first magnet piece, and 
 wherein the second clasp member having a second magnet piece. 
 
     
     
       18. The wearable band of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the control unit is further configured that, before clasping, the control unit instructs the motor to adjust the position of the second clasp member so that the two distal ends are aligned on top of each other with a magnetic piece on each end facing each other, thereby facilitating the two magnetic pieces to clasp by magnetic force. 
 
     
     
       19. The wearable band of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the control unit is further configured to initiate activation of the motor if measurements provided by the sensors are higher or lower than a predetermined threshold value; and 
 wherein the control unit is configured to cease the activation of the motor if measurements provided by the sensors reach the predetermined threshold value. 
 
     
     
       20. A self-adjusting clasp comprising:
 a first clasp member having a first magnet piece, 
 a second clasp member having a second magnet piece, 
 the first and the second clasp members being separable from one another in an open position of the clasp and being configured to mutually attract and magnetically connect to each other to form an overlap of the first and the second clasp members in a closed position of the clasp; 
 an anchor mechanism for attaching to a band, 
 a motor disposed in the first clasp member, the motor being configured to adjust a position of the anchor mechanism with respect to the rest of the clasp, 
 at least one sensor, and 
 a control unit in communication with the motor and the at least one sensor, 
 wherein the control unit controls activation of the motor based on measurements provided by the at least one sensor. 
 
     
     
       21. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the motor is a worm-gear motor, a lead screw actuator, or a rack and pinion motor. 
 
     
     
       22. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the motor comprises a driveshaft and a gear, the gear being configured to engage with the anchor mechanism such that the gear, when moving in response to activation of the motor, adjusts a position of the anchor mechanism with respect to the rest of the clasp. 
 
     
     
       23. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the at least one sensor is a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, a conductivity sensor, a light sensor, a heat sensor, a strain gauge, a stress gauge, a bend sensor, or a combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       24. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the control unit initiates activation of the motor if measurements provided by the at least one sensor are higher or lower than a predetermined threshold value; and 
 wherein the control unit ceases the activation of the motor if measurements provided by the at least one sensor reach the predetermined threshold value. 
 
     
     
       25. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the clasp further comprises a user input unit in communication with the control unit; and 
 wherein the control unit receives an instruction from the user input unit and controls the activation of the motor according to the instruction. 
 
     
     
       26. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the control unit is housed in one of the first and second clasp members. 
 
     
     
       27. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 20 ,
 further comprising a magnet shield surrounding surfaces of the first and second clasp members. 
 
     
     
       28. The self-adjusting clasp of  claim 20 ,
 further comprising a second motor disposed on the second clasp member, the second motor being configured to adjust a position of the anchor mechanism with respect to the rest of the clasp.